Desperate Remedies

Our Rating: L Factor: Major lesbian characters Short Take: It’s the late 1800s in a coastal New Zealand town. A businesswoman and her lover persevere, one marrying a man for cover. Alternate Titles:
Year: 1993 Duration: 94 min Language: New Zealand/English MPAA: R	Director: Stewart Main, Peter Wells Writer: Stewart Main, Peter Wells Starring: Jennifer Ward-Lealand, Kevin Smith, Lisa Chappell, Cliff Curtis, Michael Hurst

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It’s the late 1800s in a coastal town in New Zealand. Dorothea (Jennifer Ward-Lealand, Boudicea in Xena, A Game With No Rules) is a local businesswoman. Her sister is pregnant and under the influence of opium supplied by her bad influence of a boyfriend, and Dorothea hires new immigrant Lawrence (Kevin Smith, Xena) to marry her sister and be a father to the child. Meanwhile, local politician William (Michael Hurst, Hercules) wants to marry Dorothea for her money, and Lawrence desires Dorothea instead of her sister.

Dorothea already has a lover, Anne (Lisa Chappell, Hercules), who encourages her to marry William to provide a cover for their life together. The men come and go, but it the end, Dorothea and Anne’s love perseveres.

This is an over the top drama, with overwhelming music and odd camera angles, costumes, sets and colors. The film is almost like some kind of odd dream performed for the stage. Ward-Lealand and Chappell look lovely together though. The film also includes a full-on frontal nude shot of the late hunky Kevin Smith. (AB)